News Release

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Carjacking Suspect Tries to Run Down Officers

"Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Carjacking Suspect Tries to Run Down Officers"

West Los Angeles: This morning, shortly after 10:00 a.m., an officer-involved shooting occurred after a carjacking suspect, driving a newer model Hyundai, attempted to run down three Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers, as they stood in a driveway of an apartment complex located in the 1700 block of Beloit Avenue.

Los Angeles Police Department Officer Chiquita Brown (Serial No. 35252, 30 years old, 3 years with the Department) and her partner were assigned Unit 8A59 and on patrol in the area of the 1700 block of Beloit Avenue, when they received a LoJack activation, advising them that they were in the vicinity of a stolen vehicle. In conducting their investigation, the officers became aware of the description and license number of the stolen vehicle. The officers were also advised that the vehicle was taken earlier in the day, in a carjacking. The suspect used a semi-automatic handgun and was to be considered armed and dangerous. The area is made up of numerous multi-unit dwellings. This necessitated that the officers exit their vehicle to conduct a search of the area on foot. As the officers came around a building to proceed westbound on the driveway, adjacent to that building, they observed the vehicle, a silver Hyundai Elantra, in the narrow driveway facing eastbound. Inside the vehicle was a lone male suspect.

The suspect was ordered to get out of the vehicle. The suspect refused to comply and instead, accelerated the vehicle at the officers in an attempt to run them down. The suspect crashed the vehicle against a wall. He backed up the vehicle and again, drove it at the officers, attempting to run them down. Officer Brown was in fear for her partner’s and her own safety and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Once again, the vehicle crashed into a wall. The suspect, apparently not impacted by Officer Brown firing at him, backed up the vehicle and again, attempted to run down the officers. By this time, a third officer (Robert Lockhart, Serial No. 32961, 29 years old, 6 years with the Department) had arrived at the scene. Officer Lockhart observed the suspect accelerate the vehicle towards the two officers. It also appeared that the suspect was reaching under the dashboard area as if trying to retrieve a weapon. Officer Lockhart became fearful for his safety and that of the other two officers. At this time, a second officer-involved shooting occurred, as Officer Lockhart fired his Department-issued pistol at the suspect.

The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and was transported by paramedics to a local hospital. He is currently listed in critical condition but is expected to survive his injuries. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene from inside the vehicle, driven by the suspect. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, in his mid 20’s. He will be booked for Carjacking and Assault with a Deadly Weapon on Police Officers.

The vehicle used by the suspect was stolen shortly after 7:00 a.m., today. The suspect reportedly carjacked a female victim, as she was putting items into her vehicle, in the 4300 block of Berryman Avenue [Pacific Area]. The suspect reportedly pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the victim and demanded the victim’s vehicle, a 2002 Hyundai Elantra, silver in color.

The investigation is on going and is being conducted by Robbery Homicide Division and Critical Incident Investigation Division. Please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586 if you have inquiries regarding this press release.